Slow down

Summer's coming, so they say. Not that we've seen any of it so far. The last fortnight has been slow to say the least, with just the one day when there was some sort of flurry. It was last Thursday, when we didn't have to go to the supermarket - because we went on Wednesday in stead. Typical.

I have ringed 38 new birds over the 16 days since my last visit, with 12 retraps if I exclude all but the first of the multiple extractions of the Bullfinch clan. [Should start to disperse more widely now].
0, 4, 3, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 6, 0, 0/7, 0, 10, 3, 0, 3. That's how it went.

The one uplifting moment - 3JJ Redstart

Jackdaw 1
Blue Tit 3 (3)
Great Tit 2 (2)
Long-tailed Tit 1 - my 1st juv., moulting too.
Chiffchaff 1
Blackcap 8
Wren 3 (1)
Blackbird (2) - a 6F & a 5F
Robin 2
Redstart 1 - the tail was on the previous blog
Dunnock 2
House Sparrow 8 (1)
Goldfinch 1 (1) - a very recent fledgling
Bullfinch 5 (2) - the whole family (spread over)

Now that we are able to access the net-ride sites, the 7 new birds were taken down at the meadows last Tuesday. The grasses are the tallest anyone can remember. Tally was - Blue Tit 1, Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 2 (1), Wren 1, Song Thrush 1 [a 5M], and Dunnock 1.

The lower crossing place

Now the sun's out from 05:22 until 21:16 and even a blind man can see the nets! What's worse is the bats (brown long-eared) are back out again, wizzing round the nets at dawn and dusk - so they have to be furled until the 'danger' is over.

If 'The Levels' dry out in this warm weather, we may be out catching some warblers the other side of Bridgewater, sooner rather than later! Need to play 'catch-up' - only 500 (or 50%) behind last year's total by now.

PS. I think I've lost some HTML coding as the side bar has slipped to the end of the posts! Ha ha.

No stripes, no cigar

... but there is supposed to be a Yank (Semi-P) 50 miles up the road on the Brue. Ringing has again been slow due to the weather. Down here we've had stronger winds from the soth-east, not a good direction for 'traffic'. Saying that, when I was out tempting fate last Thursday, I did have my first Fieldfare in the orchard by the stream; none since. A few Mipit stragglers passed over in ones and twos, the four Little Egrets were 'on the patch' and were spooked by a Red Deer hind, in turned spooked by 'us' (me and the dog, Cerise). A couple of passing flocks of Siskin eventually amalgamated in one of 28-30. before flying SW over the village.

I haven't heard or seen any Redwings but one or two new male Blackbirds have arrived/stopped off. They look alot cleaner than our local juveniles and, all bar one, congruously with the shorter wing-lengths of the 'south-western locals'. Goldcrests have returned after a two month absence and the Coal Tits are noisesome again. The thing that is most noticeable is the number of Blue Tits coming to the garden orchard. On trapping, these are mainly birds that were ringed at the end of the winter or immediately post-fledging, none having been seen since they obtained a BTO ring.

I found a dead Badger at the end of the road. It was clean and had no marks and may have been a true road-kill; you can never tell round here as some unscrupulous farmers leave them beside the road to look as if they died an accidental death. Two days after, I noticed a couple in a Landie carefully picking it up; why they wanted it, I do not know, perhaps to just remove and bury it.

Apart from the Mipits, there has been a strong passage of Skylarks, probably a couple of hundred every morning. there have also been the odd day with a trickle of 'alba' and grey wagtails. No Robins or noteworthy thrushes yet. Today, another Sparrowhawk - only I was on the wrong side of the net at the time and it rolled out and back the way it came. Bugger. The Bullfinches are now out and about in the hedgerows, talking of which, this year's poor crop of Blackberries is almost over. Must admit, I enjoyed two suppers of blackberry and apple pie with ice cream this weekend though!

To catch up, birds ringed from Thurs. to Sun. -
Goldcrest 1
Blue Tit 14 (5)
Coal Tit 2 (2)
Long-tailed Tit (9)
Wren (1)
Blackbird 2
Song Thrush 1
Robin (1)
Goldfinch 3 (1)

As the WSR comes to the end of the season (trains stop from November to February, apart from Xmas specials) there are no scheduled trains on Mondays and Fridays. This allows 'driver training' on both steam and diesel. This often means a mix of wagons made up especially for the "new" drivers under instruction. Below, and three fields away, is one such, a GWR mixed goods behind a more modern diesel loco. [Looks like a Class 33]

Away day

Decided to forego ringing in favour of a day out. Took ourselves off to Brean Down with the dogs. The weather was dull at first, becoming hazy later during the morning.

By the time we left (about sidereal noon) the temperature had reached 20C.


That's "Weston-super-Mud" in the background!

There were plenty of summer migrants about; there must have been in excess of 100 male/singing Willow Warblers. Close behind on Number 2 was Whitethroat. Conditions have been favourable in the last couple of days for migrants to cross the Channel and they have pored in!

Common Whitethroat (c) Edward D Green

A fair few Chiffchaffs and plenty of Meadow Pipits were seen/heard and several pairs of Linnet gave Jen a year tick. All the while we walked the two kilometres along the lower (ha, ha) path, Herring and Lesser Black-back Gulls glided into the bay towards the River Axe, making full use of the updraughts. A year tick for me was one of my favourite birds, the House Martin, 'prritting' above the gulls.

The Bluebells were coming out and will be at their best next week-end (Easter) but the Cowslips (below) were in full bloom, often surrounded by violets.


After watching two Tree Pipits and three spanking male Stonechats, we arrived at the fort, which has an interesting history.


This was built in the middle of the 19th century, along with three others [Steep Holm, Flat Holm & one on the Welsh coast], to defend the Bristol Channel against invasion by the French. On the return walk, we only heard one of the three Grasshopper Warblers that we had picked up on the way out to the fort. As much as we stared at the vegetation (bramble, naturally)....


There was a secretive one in here, honest.

... we could not clap eyes on any of these little buggers, partly because of the steep terrain that made viewing low vegetation difficult.

Grasshopper Warbler (c) Edward D Green

We finished off our 2 hour walk with a nice mug of coffee and a lump of coffee and walnut cake at the National Trust cafe.

Bridgewater Bay NNR

A walk with the Somerset OS led by Jeff Hazell (ex Londoner) in murky conditions turned out OK and the company was terrific; about a dozen of us, from beginners to old hands. I took my dog along as she is very "clingy" at the moment (in the last week of her season).

High tide was at 11:10 and now subsided after the equinoxial high to a moderate 8.7 metres.

Birds seen (Wall Common): Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret (5 or more), Grey Heron, Mute Swan (pair nesting), Brent Goose (15, 3 dark-bellied), Shelduck (100+), Mallard, Buzzard, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Lesser Black-back Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Skylark (masses singing), Sand Martin (several parties through), Meadow Pipit (again a fair few), Pied and White Wagtail (3 of the latter), Dunnock, Wheatear (smart male), Blackbird, Chiffchaff (3 singers), Great Tit, Magpie, Crow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting. I also saw a Yellowhammer, my first for the year, just before I arrived at the rendez-vous (they all seem to bugger off from us here in winter).

Some movement

Firstly it was the wind in the NE that put a stop to a decent catch, then it swung SW and upped a gear. If it hadn't been for the wind, the grey skies with fleeting sunshine and the odd passing shower might have produced something ringable.

The latter half of the week saw me back in Bedford on family business, before moving on to Aylesbury. We had arranged an early spring ringing session in the 15 year-old wood we are looking at. The skies were clear, the sun beamed down, the wind got up and we were dead in the water. All we had for our troubles were 2 male Goldcrests.


It wasn't all bad as we saw a Woodcock fleeing from one net, 3 Jays "laughing up their sleeves/axillaries", a Tawny keeping a box warm, various tits defending clusters of boxes and, up with the Kites, Sky Larks singing their little hearts out in the blue skies, out performing the 'hiss' of a "SqueasyJet". Two early starts and well over 400 miles driven in 36 hours. Almost home, I saw an adult male Hen Harrier flying alongside (not quite) the car as I crossed "the levels". I slept soundly last night.

Back home for the whole of the last day of the week, and with the day starting grey and damp with a promise of a clearance - it was 'nets up' sharpish. Shortly thereafter the sound of a Chiffchaff singing in the early sun along Union Lane at the back of us perked me up. Then, behold, one in the net. This individual's characteristics of long wing, 2=7, black-black legs, full colouration and minimal abrasion puts it within the realms of abietinus. Overall it turned out to be the best day of the week.

Now a few mundane images of mundane birds that turned up this week.




Having had the nets up for a shorter time, the week's total was up slightly on the previous two. 19 birds ringed and 11 species handled as under.
Blue Tit 1
Coal Tit 1 - first since mid-Jan
Long-tailed Tit (1)
Chiffchaff 1 (new)
Blackbird 1 (1)
Robin (2)
House Sparrow 6, after a 6-week gap
Chaffinch 2
Brambling 1 (& a 2nd male avoiding the nets today)
Greenfinch 3
Goldfinch 3
Nine weeks in and I'm almost at the 500 'new birds' mark.

Other signs of spring included several bumblebees, Brimstone butties, primroses and the Camellia in full flower now.



No sign of tadpoles hatching yet; perhaps another week?

Snoday the 17th

After a couple of milder days, we woke to a light covering of snow. On and off during the day we had some more snow and then hail around the middle of the day. Tonight, we anticipate some more snow, perhaps 10-20 cms.

Over the last 3 days, I have refilled the feeders with or put out - 7kg SFH, 2kg wheat, 1kg small seed, 1kg peanuts, 1 kg soaked sultanas, 0.5 kg Nyger and 6 chopped-up, wholemeal crusts. There are two large fatball feeders as well.

There have been plenty of birds utilising all this grub; yesterday, I counted 50 Chaffinch at one point before they were spooked by a lorry turning into the industrial estate; there were more uncounted. At least 13 Brambling with 8 males at once, making me think that there could be more than that. 3 BH Gulls is the most in the 4 weeks we've been here. Goldfinch numbers have held up at a max count of 10 at any one time. Yesterday late on, 4 Rooks decided to come down and scare everything for a while. Best in some ways were the 3 Siskin at once, coming to the Nyger; I find these always take some time to locate feeders in gardens, especially away from any conifers (like us). A new addition this week was Song Thrush when 2 birds were driven in by the poor weather - and possibly the sight of some sultanas.

I reckon the birds are eating somewhere around 4kg of food per day, presented either in feeders or on the ground.  I can see that I shall have to find a sponsor if this weather carries on much longer!

POSTSCRIPT: Overnight we had 5cm (2 ins) of snow - elsewhere in the county they had up to 20cm.
Got out early and cleared some snow in the orchard and put down fresh wheat and mixed seed for the expected breakfast rush. About an hour later, I did count 15-16 Bramblings feeding in amongst >50 Chaffinches.
Following pic taken 10 minutes after sunrise from the kitchen window.

Mini walks started

I say that loosely; the dogs need exercise other than careering round the garden. Mostly it's to the shops via the rec. and beside the "river" Willit. Yesterday we ventured a little further, this time out in to the countryside.

We took a path that sort of follows the Willit downstream to Donniford. After crossing the railway, you come to a nursery beside the "river". A good place to look out for birds and always turns up Song Thrush [why don't they come into the garden - it's only 300m.] Turning up "the drive", there are a number of decent Alders and usually some Siskins. Much of the land is permanent pasture with horses nearest the water.

As the drive widens out nearer the farm and barn conversions, there are more bushes. There always seems to be a number of Blackbirds here; I wonder if they're locals or incomers?

The path passes through the old farmyard and rises up a little, with sheep pasture on the steep hill to the east. There was Fieldfare in a veteran tree that looked possibly good for Little Owl. The dogs have to navigate the stiles using various devices of opening and closing a small hole at ground level.

Further on it looked like turnips but was probably beet. The hedges here are old and thick and have already been sliced off. Devoid of anything other than a Dunnock.

Eventually we came to a small converted farmhouse and an unmade road called 'Watery Lane' ['cos it's beside the "river"]. Although the area turns into a couple of dozen old holiday bungalows, we suspect the gardens are someone's pride and joy in summer.

There was a remnant orchard near the "main road" with loads of fallen apples. On the deck enjoying them were a couple of Blackbirds, some Chaffinch, a Woodpigeon and a female Pheasant. I expect she had  ventured out from the small plantation on the overlooking hill; it looked much like a shooter's lay-out. We returned back the way we came without event.

We connected withthe Santa Special at the station. Lots of smoke, steam and whistles, with a bit of flag waving and baton changing.

Extra species that have arrived in the garden since my last posting are:
Blackcap 1, Greenfinch up to 11, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail & Treecreeper. Chaffinch are now up to a dozen or more at a time.

Garden feeders - just before the post dawn rush!
 A local birder called Frank reckons he saw a Lesser 'pecker a couple of weeks ago, just along where we had walked, his first for 10 years or so.

Getting the cat "sorted" on Tuesday.

POSTSCRIPT:     On the way back through the station platform I had a chat with the "Stationmaster". When the line was British Rail, he had worked there for 27 years until closure of the line following Beeching. He was dressed in his uniform with silver braid on his cap. Jenny went to the Parish Council meeting tonight, Monday [the day after] and learnt that he had died that same evening, less than six hours after I last spoke to him. He was well liked in the village and a bit of a character.

Walks temporarily abandoned

This blog is now coming to you from sunny (or snowy) Somerzet!

The West Somerset Railway is just down the road.


The two (2!) removal men worked hard and unloaded two (2!) lorries in one (1!) day; we now have a house full of boxes! Jen is working hard to clear them and a couple of rooms do look habitable - just. My study is still piled high just waiting for Jen to finish her bit so that I can move some of the stuff out and assemble my large desk and filing cabinets. With the computer set up properly and the paperwork filed away, I should be able to fill the bookshelves from the remaining thirty (yes, 30!) archive boxes of mainly bird books.

The village is a marvellous place with all manner of shops, including an old fashioned hardware shop, chainsaw and clothing stores attached! Ah, the smell of chain oil! They do ride on mowers, as well; we'll be needing one of them come the spring.

View from our kitchen window (L-R); ringing hut almost obscured by Camelia.


Put some feeders out and ordered 45kg of SFH off eBay which came today; turns out it was 28 bags of 1.75kg each! Even with carriage charges, it was still cheaper than from the pet store round the corner. In two days we have had 22 species of bird in the garden that we know of.
[Blackbird 1+, Black-headed Gull 2, Blue Tit 5+, Chaffinch 2, Coal Tit 2, Collared Dove 2, Dunnock 2, Goldcrest 1, Goldfinch 5, Great Spot 1, Great Tit 2+, Herring Gull 2, House Sparrow 5(+), Jackdaw 2, Long-tailed Tit 3+, Pied Wagtail 1, Robin 2, Rook 2, Siskin 1+, Starling 1, Wood Pigeon 5, Wren 1]

We haven't had time to explore the local walks yet; the dogs have had theirs running round the garden or up to the village via the rec. (they call it the Memorial Ground)! We live on the edge of the village and it's a good half mile to the centre. Although the trunk A road passes our door, we are set back quite a way with a thick hedge in between. Occasionally we hear a lorry rumble pass, but that's either during the morning "rush hour" or in the quiet of the evening.

Got to go into Bridgwater to get my car fixed (20 miles +), 'cos the EMS light came on as we drove through Bridgwater on Monday evening. More expense we could do without right now. Still - needs must!.                       

We go!

The date has been fixed!

We go on the 22nd. That means the removal men will load and travel. We will pack, panic, double-check and travel.
We are - 2 adults, 2 dogs & 1 cat, and will all be sleeping on the floor together overnight.

Lew's stuff arrives early on 23rd, Jen's stuff arrives early on 24th, BT arrive somewhen on 24th, broad-band will be up and runing on 25th. Can I survive without it for 3 days?

Last week-end we travelled down to meet the current owner's son & daughter. Everything went smoothly, we had a long chat, they showed us everything we needed to see. They agreed what we could do to the place while we wait the sale of Lew's house.

I for one will be glad when it's all over and the hassle has stopped.